SBS World News Radio

Almost seven million people living on the expanding fringes of Australia's capital cities are at risk from urban fires similar to those seen in Los Angeles last year. The warning, by former Australian fire chiefs and the Climate Council comes as the country is set to swelter in one of the most significant heatwaves of recent years.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Chris Brycki from Stockspot about the Dow Jones Index overnight record and takes a closer look at the joint takeover bid for Bluescope Steel.

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen believes Donald Trump is 'very serious' about wanting control of Greenland, a largely autonomous part of the Danish kingdom. President Trump has repeatedly said the US ‘must' control it for national security reasons, sparking real concern among European leaders who have backed Denmark's position.

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has pleaded not guilty to so-called narco-terrorism charges in New York's federal court. As criticism builds over the US assault in Venezuela, so too do fears over similar military operations elsewhere.

Parents sending children to childcare are now guaranteed a 90 per cent subsidy for three days a week, without completing any eligibility test. The subsidy will cost around $430 million over the next four years but the government says hundreds of thousands of families are set to benefit.

As the world digests the US capture of Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro, the Australian government is calling for diplomatic restraint while domestic critics warn the military operation constitutes a "gross breach" of international law. The Coalition is backing what it calls the "decisive action" against a government they link to global drug trafficking, while the Greens and legal experts warn that failing to condemn the raid sets a dangerous precedent for global aggression and puts Australian sovereignty at risk.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Saul Kavonic from MST Marquee to find out what the developments in Venezuela means for oil and petrol prices; plus Armina Rosenberg from Minatour Capital takes a look at the key sharemarket investment themes for 2026.

Events in Venezuela have stirred emotion among the Latin American diaspora in Australia. In Sydney and Melbourne, Venezuelans are gathering in streets and community spaces as developments unfold.

Top Venezuelan officials say they will remain unified behind President Nicolas Maduro, who remains in custody in New York after he was captured in a US military operation over the weekend. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has continued to defend the military action, despite mounting domestic and international criticism.

Associate Professor Patsie Frawley researches sexuality rights as well as violence and abuse prevention in the lives of people with disabilities.

US President Donald Trump says he ordered a large-scale strike on Venezuela to capture Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. They have been charged with drug and weapons offences in New York. The action has been praised by Mr Trump's allies, but widely condemned by many nations.

Australia's non-dairy milk market is worth more than $600 million annually and is growing rapidly. One plant-based milk business run by an Australian entrepreneur also supports some of the world's poorest women.

Artificial intelligence is turning ideas into art. It's being auctioned for thousands of dollars and increasingly winning art prizes. But visual artists are divided about what this new movement means for their job futures and the future of creativity.

Some remember the Vietnam War battles from the headlines of the 1960s and 1970s, and some from movies and history books. Others know them as the graveyards of loved ones who died fighting more than a half-century ago. Today, the battlefields of Vietnam are sites of pilgrimage for veterans from both sides who fought there, and tourists wanting to see firsthand where the war was waged.

Australia's billion-dollar beef trade faces a massive shakeup as China imposes a new 55 per cent tariff on imports that exceed strictly capped annual quotas. While the Chinese government claims the move will protect its farmers from oversupply, Australian industry leaders and the Federal Opposition warn the tariff increase breaches the spirit of Australia's long-standing free trade agreement with China.

A New Year's Eve celebration at a luxury Alpine ski resort has ended in one of the deadliest disasters in Switzerland's modern history. Around 40 people are dead and more than 100 injured, including one Australian, after a fire tore through a crowded nightclub in the early hours of New Year's Day, triggering scenes of panic, chaos and devastation. A warning: this story has elements that may distress some people.

While statelessness affects millions of people around the world, Australia also has stateless people.The United Nations refugee agency says there are around 8,000 stateless people in Australia, but experts say there could be more. The UNHCR is calling on the Australian government to create a stateless determination procedure (SDP), which would contribute to efforts to assess the size and the situation of stateless population amongst migrant populations.The fourth episode of Belonging Nowhere looks at Australia and how it deals with statelessness.

The use of AI in recruitment is on the rise, with almost two thirds of Australian organisations believed to be using the technology in their job hiring processes. There are growing concerns over the risks of discrimination.

Hundreds of newly released cabinet papers reveal the inner workings of the Howard government in the mid-noughties with warnings about the role that defence personnel should play in Afghanistan and Australia's preparedness for a pandemic.

The Israeli government is set to revoke the licences of 37 aid groups working in Gaza and the West Bank, which have failed to meet its new vetting rules. Israel says the suspensions will not affect the delivery of aid, but the move has drawn widespread criticism.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Mark Gardner from MPC Markets about whether investors should be happy with the near 7% return on the ASX200 this year and what the key investment themes for 2026 will likely be.

Russia says nuclear-capable missiles have been deployed to Belarus and are in active service. It brings the weapons closer to Europe as Russia toughens its negotiating position in peace talks with Ukraine.

Sydney's iconic New Year's Eve fireworks will ring in 2026, but celebrations will look a little different this year with some police officers carrying long-arms following the Bondi terror attack. In other cities the New Year will also be welcomed with fireworks and music in many popular spots around the country.

For a year and a half, Israel has been bombarding the densely populated Gaza Strip in response to attacks staged by Hamas on October 7th, 2023. It was a rapid escalation of an old, old conflict and many people understand that it has created millions of displaced people and refugees. Not many people understand that many of those are also stateless. This third episode of Belonging Nowhere looks into it.

More details have emerged from police into the motives and movements of the two alleged shooters of the Bondi Beach terror attack. An initial assessment has found Sajid and Naveed Akram acted alone, and weren't part of a terrorist cell.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Gemma Dale from nabtrade about the day's sharemarket action and a look to the investment themes for 2026.

Russia has accused Ukraine of trying to attack President Vladimir Putin's residence in northern Russia, which Ukraine's government has dismissed as baseless and designed to undermine peace negotiations. The angry exchanges have dealt a new blow to prospects for peace in Ukraine.

Many stateless people are displaced around the world, attempting to find somewhere they can call home. Their journeys can often take a heavy toll, as they deal with traumatic experiences, or need to hid their true identities as a persecuted minority. In this second episode of 'Belonging Nowhere' we'll hear some of the many stories of how people from different stateless backgrounds come to Australia – and the difficulties they've faced trying to make a home.

The search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is set to resume more than a decade after the aircraft vanished while travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board. A fresh search in the southern Indian Ocean is being conducted by private marine robotics company Ocean Infinity, using advanced technology in hopes of retrieving answers to one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries. But families of passengers on board say they need transparency on the terms of the search, and clarity on the prospects for recovery.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Hugh Lam from Betashares about the day's market action including the rising gold and silver price, plus investment themes for 2026.

Brigitte Bardot, cinema icon, has died in France at the age of 91. A person of strong political views, she stopped acting in the 1970s and dedicated herself to the welfare of animals.

Belonging nowhere is a reality for millions of people around the world: it's known as statelessness. Described by some as an overlooked human rights issue, this first episode delves into the history of statelessness and who stateless people are.

.When you think of birdwatching, retirees probably come to mind. But a new generation is picking up binoculars and taking on the hobby. What was once an escape from the online world is making a comeback online.

As the holiday season hits there's nothing like grabbing a good book, heading to a cool shady spot and reading a story that takes you into another world. But with so many digital distractions, how popular are books and what genres are catching readers' interest the most? Please note: This story contains sexual references.

As with most years, the health sector has been a constant source of news stories - from outbreaks of illnesses to outstanding medical research, from politics to pandemics, from injuries to infections. SBS news looks back at some of the medical stories that hit the news in 2025.

.Raising funds to ease homelessness among women is the focus of a Sydney hotel, one of 12,000 social enterprises in Australia that combine profit with purpose.

President Donald Trump says the United States has launched a 'powerful and deadly' strike against IS in north-western Nigeria. Mr Trump described those killed as 'terrorist scum' who had been targeting and killing primarily innocent Christians.

A hotline supporting refugees who have fled war, violence and persecution has received a funding boost after the Bondi terror attack. Those running the hotline service in New South Wales says the funding will allow it to extend its reach nationally, supporting refugees as they navigate the ongoing effects of complex trauma and triggers of what happened at Bondi.

Melbourne's trams have been part of the city for more than 140 years. Almost half a million people ride them each day — but few know the story behind the seats they sit on.

The sporting universe provided both a welcome distraction from the problems of the world in 2025... as well as a whole heap of drama and intrigue of its own.

Lake St Clair is surrounded by Tasmania's Wilderness World Heritage area and was carved out by glaciers over millions of years. It's around twice as deep as Bass Strait, but Australia's deepest lake has never been fully mapped. Until now: CSIRO scientists have produced the first 3D map of the underwater landscape, confirming the vast depth of the natural wonder.

It's not science fiction, but it has elements. It's not romance, but it touches the heart. It's not fantasy but don't be surprised if you encounter a werewolf or an elf. It's the new literary craze which is taking the book world by storm, driven by millions of fans on the social media platform TikTok. It's called romantasy.

As Australians prepare to celebrate Christmas, charities across the country are stepping in to support those most at risk of loneliness and isolation during the holiday season. Wesley Mission is hosting a free Christmas Day lunch to bring together people from all walks of life, while disability and community services work to ensure vulnerable Australians are not left without care or connection over the end of year shutdown.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Mathan Somasundram from Deep Data Analytics about the better than expected US GDP result and what it means for interest rates, plus a look ahead to 2026 on the markets.

As Ukraine approaches another wartime Christmas, the contrast between diplomacy and destruction could hardly be sharper. While Kyiv says it has strengthened draft peace proposals in talks with the United States, Russia has launched one of its largest combined drone and missile attacks of the year, striking homes, power infrastructure and front-line towns.

The Peterson Space Force Base in the US city of Colorado Springs is normally busy tracking military targets. But this Christmas, it has another important mission: following the progress of Santa across the world on Christmas Eve. The North American Aerospace Defence Command - NORAD - has been doing this important work for the past 70 years.

2025 has been a huge year for geopolitics, natural disasters and a changing of the guard at the top levers of international power and influence. We look back at the key moments.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Jamie Hannah from VanEck to find out what's driving the market as the Santa Rally continues.

The United States and Venezuela are edging closer to a serious diplomatic confrontation, after the US seized two oil tankers linked to the Venezuelan government in international waters, with a third now under pursuit. Venezuela accuses the US of piracy and an illegal naval blockade, as pressure mounts on the country's already sanctioned oil industry, with both Iran and China stating matters could spiral out of control.

Laws to restrict the right to protest in New South Wales after the Bondi terror attack have passed the Parliament after a marathon sitting. A broad coalition of groups has expressed strong opposition, characterising the reforms as overreach and a serious threat to democracy. A constitutional challenge has been announced but the government is standing firm, setting the stage for a High Court challenge.

It has been a turbulent 12 months for Australians with unity in the community tested with the spillover of tensions from global conflicts. There was also milestone moments with the trial of mushroom cook Erin Patterson, and the ongoing impact of climate-driven weather extremes.